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Thy Neighbor: A Novel Audiobook
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(2.04) - 111 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From the New York Times bestselling author, a first novel as spellbinding as her acclaimed nonfiction
At thirty-four, Nick Walsh is a broken, deeply cynical man. Since the violent deaths of his parents thirteen years earlier, he has been living alone in his childhood home in the suburban Midwest, drinking, drugging, and debauching himself into oblivion. A measure of solace is provided by his newly found relationship with Monica, a mysterious woman who seems to harbor as many secrets as he does.
Obsessed with understanding the circumstances surrounding his parents’ deaths and deranged by his relentless sorrow, Nick begins a campaign of spying on his neighbors via hidden cameras and microphones he has covertly installed in their houses. As he observes with amusement and disbelief all the strange, sad, and terrifying things that his neighbors do to themselves and to one another, and as he, in turn, learns that he is being stalked, he begins to slowly unravel the shocking truth about how and why his parents died.
At once unsettling and moving, humorous and horrifying, Thy Neighbor explores the nature of grief, the potential isolation of suburban life, and who we really are when we think no one is watching. What readers and critics have admired in Norah Vincent’s nonfiction is completely unleashed in this vivid and provocative novel.
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"I used to know someone this bitter, this wrapped up in all the wrongs done unto him, this tragic. It was strange to read about a character so similar, even though the circumstances are WAY WAY different. Some of the writing was a wee dramatic but overall, I really enjoyed this."
— Tami (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Norah Vincent will make you laugh while she is breaking your heart...At once a misanthropic rant, a voyeuristic free for all, and a philosophic thriller, Thy Neighbor is a book that you will tear through in a few days and chew on for a long time thereafter. It’s a heady and wonderful read.”
— Gary Shteyngart, New York Times bestselling author of Super Sad True Love Story -
“One of our smartest and most original journalists has changed hats, and the new one fits her perfectly. A raging, jolting, arrestingly hard-edged novel of paranoia and revenge in the suburbs, Thy Neighbor crackles with ferocious energy and virtuosic phrasemaking.”
— Terry Teachout, New York Times bestselling author of Pops -
“Edoardo Ballerini perfectly captures the patronizing, pretentious, angry, disdainful, egotistical, and vainglorious Nick Walsh, a complicated thirty-four-year-old drunk...Ballerini’s dark, authoritative performance features crisp intonation and considerable acting skills...An exceptional narration.”
— AudioFile -
“Spooky and thought-provoking.”
— Library Journal
Thy Neighbor Listener Reviews
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" Unable to understand why his Father killed his Mother, then took his own life, Nick begins installing hidden cameras in his neighbors' homes, voyeurism that only inspires more questions than answers ... especially about himself. Written by a seasoned (and often controversial) journalist, Norah Vincent's fiction debut THY NEIGHBOR is a wonderful showcase of her considerable skill with prose. Unfortunately, as a story, it often meanders off course and struggles to keep our interest, is stocked with characters -- like Nick himself -- that we don't like or have much interest in, and is often very hard to follow, even for this reader who read it in less than a week's time. This is not the modern Hitchcock Noir I hoped for when I read about the plot, and is not for fans of straightforward pop fiction. Looking at Norah Vincent's body of work, I would think that's exactly how she designed it. Prepare to be challenged. "
— Aaron, 2/12/2014 -
" I couldn't get very far before I returned this to the library. There was a creepy main character, his wierd kind-of friend, and crude language that just couldn't keep me reading. I'll pass. "
— Smschade, 2/2/2014 -
" A smart, gritty read. I love the way she describes little things that people do when they're just talking to other people...running their fingers around the buttons on a remote control or picking grass and twining it while sitting outside. Voyeuristic train wreck page turner. "
— Megan, 1/31/2014 -
" Had to call it quits at page 45. Awful writing style. "
— Gg, 1/19/2014 -
" Started out awesome, though rude and crude, it was hilarious. Then something happened and it became less enjoyable. So disappointing! "
— Nancy, 1/7/2014 -
" Disturbed neighbor as he uncovers the truth behind his parents murder suicide. "
— Ibmommy, 1/7/2014 -
" Couldn't even get halfway through this book... "
— Karalyn, 12/23/2013 -
" I loved Ms. Vincent's previous two books so was thrilled to see this one in the bookstore. However, the first ten pages or so were filled with what I interpreted as depression and self-loathing that I abandoned it. I hope she writes another book as she is an excellent writer. "
— Kathy, 12/20/2013 -
" I can't entirely blame the quality of the book for its unfinished status. It may be that it just isn't a good pick for the middle of a Midwest winter. Will try again this summer. "
— Terina, 12/8/2013 -
" Pretty strange~ "
— Lynne, 12/5/2013 -
" This book is every bit as disturbing as critics have been saying, yet it is beautifully and knowingly written. "
— Irus, 8/12/2013 -
" Weird, deceptive, voyeuristic neighbors spying on you as you spy on them. Seemed like a good premise. Execution not so great. "
— Jessica, 8/5/2013 -
" I just couldn't get through this book. It was way too bizarre. "
— Vicki, 6/21/2013 -
" It kept me hooked to figure out the mystery, but some of the writing was overblown. "
— Ruth, 4/13/2013 -
" Couldn't even finish it. Terrible "
— Christa, 3/7/2013 -
" I could not finish this book. Maybe I will pick it up at a later date and be able to enjoy it more. "
— Becca, 9/30/2012
About Norah Vincent
Norah Vincent (1968-2022) was the author of several books, including the the New York Times bestseller Self-Made Man. Previously, she wrote a nationally syndicated op-ed column for the Los Angeles Times. Her work also appeared in the New York Times, New Republic, Village Voice, and the Washington Post.
About Edoardo Ballerini
Edoardo Ballerini, an American actor, director, film producer, and multiaward–winning narrator. He has won several Audie Awards for best narration, including for 2019’s Best Male Narrator of the Year. He was named by Booklist as winner of their 2023 Voice of Choice Award, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, from classics to modern masters, from bestsellers to the inspirational, from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners to spine-tingling series, and much more. In television and film, he is best known for his roles in A Murder at the End of the World, The Sopranos, 24, I Shot Andy Warhol, Dinner Rush, and Romeo Must Die. He is also trained in theater and continues to do much work on stage.